Drama as Wike disputes NEMA’s claim on Abuja barracks explosion

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the account given by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) regarding the recent explosion that rocked the front of the Mogadishu military barracks in Abuja on Monday.

While NEMA had earlier reported that the explosion was the result of a suicide bombing, Wike offered a different narrative during a media chat with journalists.

Speaking during his inspection tour of road projects scheduled for commissioning to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office, the minister stated that the intelligence reports he received contradict NEMA’s account.

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The minister said, ”The security never said it was a suicide bomber. So don’t go and create an impression and put fear in people. NEMA is not the head of security. Security agencies are there.

”What happened was that there was somebody that went to where we have these quarries, where they blast all these rocks. The person took the explosive and put it in his pocket. Of course, some of them may not even understand the implication of that and so, it exploded on him.

”So that does not mean that it is a suicide bomber. We should be careful in the story we are planting; let’s not send the wrong message to the residents.”

Daily Trust had reported an explosion near a checkpoint opposite the Mogadishu barracks in Abuja.

A man was reportedly killed during the incident.

While NEMA revealed the outcome of its findings, but both the military and the police are yet to disclose the cause of the incident, saying investigation is ongoing.